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Home Mortgage Rates in Utah

Home to five national parks, picturesque scenery, a culturally diverse landscape, and year-round recreational activities, it's no wonder the state of Utah is a popular destination to travel to and live in.

The 45th state is currently the 31st most populous in the nation with almost three million people residing here. In 2012, Utah ranked fourth in overall well-being in the nation, and this trend has continued. Utah is a culturally diverse state, and there is a large LDS Mormon community, and Utah is thought of as being a haven for the LGBT community and their supporters.

People move to Utah for the excellent education opportunities such as Brigman Young University and the University of Utah. Additionally, in a 2017 study, Utah was ranked as the ninth safest state in the nation, and this makes it an excellent place to move and raise your family. Utah's economy ranked as the highest in the nation for the best economic growth in 2013 and 2014.

There are two primary reasons people move out of Utah, and they were highlighted in a 2017 survey. Residents were concerned about the air quality due to the rapidly expanding population, and low wages.

Current Real Estate Trends

Utah's real estate market is on fire, and this is driving home costs up at a rapid rate. Over the last five years, the median housing prices shot up from $190,000 to $280,000, and this is higher than before the housing market crashed. Before the housing market crash, Utah's median home price was right around $250,000.

Since the early 2000s, Utah's real estate market had steady increases each year until they peaked in 2007. Once the housing crisis hit, housing prices in Utah began to fall, bottoming out in 2012. They began to recover, and currently, Utah's supply in demand is driving their housing prices up past where they were at their peak in 2007-2008.

A large part of the skyrocketing real estate prices is an influx of Millennials moving to Utah and purchasing a property. A study showed that Utah as the second-highest level of home ownership by the Millennial generation in the nation, and in 2016 Utah was as one of the top places in the country where young people are moving to due to the excellent economic outlook. Homeownership rate across the state have remained above 68% every year since 1984.

Historical Real Estate Trends

From the period of 1990 to the start of 1999, Utah saw a steady increase in home ownership with a slight decline in late 1999 and early 2000. It recovered and kept steadily increasing until late 2004. The number of people purchasing homes at the end of 2004 to early 2005 saw the beginning of a steep increase in more and more people purchasing homes. This increase of people purchasing homes peaked at the end of 2007 and early 2008; then housing prices began to fall. Housing prices hit bottom in 2011, and it showed a steady increase until 2013 when housing prices began to skyrocket again. Currently, the real estate market is in high demand.

Utah's largest city, Salt Lake City saw a similar pattern both pre and post housing crash. In late 2007, Salt Lake City reached its peak levels for home ownership before the housing prices began to decline. There was a brief period in 2010 when the number of people purchasing homes increased, but that fell again until it hit bottom in 2011. Since 2011, there has been a steady increase until 2015 when the market began to increase rapidly. Currently, Salt Lake City has a very hot real estate market.

Despite this hot real estate market, the cost of living is also rising in Utah. When you combine this with the higher cost of real estate and the lower wages, it makes sense that residents are working harder to sustain themselves. With housing prices skyrocketing, this also makes rent costs rise as well as more people are forced to rent until they can buy. All of these factors contribute to the higher cost of living Utah is experiencing.

Utah Living Costs

Cost of Living

Utah

United States

Overall

104

100

Grocery

96.9

100

Health

91

100

Housing

122

100

Miscellaneous

99

100

Transportation

96

100

Utilities

87

100

There are two reasons why Utah's median home values vary considerably against the nationwide median home price:

First, median home values tend to be higher in higher income cities such as Draper and Salt Lake City because residents who live here tend to have lower income demand elasticties for well-built homes in nicely situated areas. This is the case because most residents in these cities can afford to pay higher prices for nice homes. This has pushed the price prices in communities in resort towns like Draper and Salt Lake City well above the national average median price.

On the other hand, blue collar communities such as Logan and Ogden tend to have lower than average median home prices. This is the case because residents tend to have lower per-capita incomes and a lower cost of living than their higher priced counterparts.

Places to Live

Metropolitan Areas

UT Rank

US Rank

Metropolitan Area

2016 Pop

2010 Pop

Change

% △

1

48

Salt Lake City

1,186,187

1,087,873

98,314

9.04%

2

85

Ogden-Clearfield

654,417

597,159

57,258

9.59%

3

92

Provo-Orem

603,309

526,810

76,499

14.52%

4

260

St. George

160,245

138,115

22,130

16.02%

5

304

Logan, UT-ID Metro Area

136,159

125,442

10,717

8.54%

6

594

Cedar City

49,937

46,163

3,774

8.18%

7

691

Summit Park

40,307

36,324

3,983

10.97%

8

749

Vernal

36,373

32,588

3,785

11.61%

9

811

Heber

30,528

23,530

6,998

29.74%

10

904

Price

20,399

21,403

-1,004

-4.69%

Popular Cities in Utah

Utah has several gorgeous cities, and the majority of the population is spread over the Salt Lake Basin. We'll talk about several of the largest cities and their suburbs, along with their demographics and the median housing costs.

Many of Utah's most populated cities are holy places for the Mormon Church. Utah is one of the Mormon Church's cultural and spiritual bases. As a result, two of Utah's biggest cities are important symbols for people of the Mormon faith. These cities are Salt Lake City and Provo.

Furthermore, much of the state is rural and Utah's most populated cities also tend to suburbs of Salt Lake City. Two of Utah's most populated cities are suburbs of Salt Lake City. West Valley City and West Jordan are located within 30 minutes of Salt Lake City. These cities have also enjoyed growth as newcomers from Salt Lake City and the surrounding area have taken advantage of lower taxes and lower home prices.

Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City is the capital of the state of Utah and the most populous city in the state with 197,344 residents. Salt Lake City sits in Salt Lake County, and this metropolitan area has a population of 1,170,270 as of 2014. This city has one of the youngest populations in the nation, with the average person being just over 27 years old. With its multitude of outdoor and recreational activities, along with the large festivals that take place here every year, it's easy to see why this city draws younger residents. Many people of the Mormon faith have moved to Salt Lake City to take advantage of the social resources that are available there.

Salt Lake City has a very strong economy with job growth predicted to rise over 40% in the next ten years, at a rate of just over 2% per year. There is a median household income of $45,833, and the total income per capita is $28,428 annually. The unemployment rate is also below the national average, and it is projected to drop even further in the coming decade.

This city has a semi-arid climate that is characterized by long, hot summers and cold, snowy winters. During the winter, Salt Lake City sees around 60 inches of snow each year from November until the middle of April. In mid-winter, strong areas of high-pressure systems sit over the basin, and this can cause some of the worst smog and air pollution in the nation. During the summer, the temperature fluctuates between 90 degrees Fahrenheit and mid-50s.

There are dozens of attractions to see in this city, and the festivals draw thousands of people each year. The Sundance Film Festival had over 46,000 attendees in 2016, making it the largest independent film festival in the nation. In 2002, Salt Lake City hosted the Olympics, and today the Olympic Stadium is open to public tours. Finally, you can visit the Great Salt Lake which is two to five times saltier than the oceans, and there are year-round recreational activities to enjoy as well.

If you want access to top-rated colleges and universities, Salt Lake City has some of the top-ranked schools in the nation. Brigman Young University has an educational center in the city, and The Art Institute of Salt Lake City is located here. There are also several smaller community colleges for technical degrees for students to attend.

One of the biggest employers in Salt Lake City is Intermountain Healthcare Medical Center with over 1,400 employees. Additionally, tech giant Adobe opened its doors in 2012 and it currently employs 1,260 people. There are also dozens of people employed at the county level, and there are several other hospitals in the city with large employee rosters.

Salt Lake City has a median home price of $292,000, and this is an 8.15% increase over the past year. Home prices are predicted to rise another 2% in the coming year. The average price per square foot for a home in this city is $261, and this is a higher price than the Salt Lake City Metro's price of $184 per square foot. Finally, the median rent price in this city is $1,595 with the metro area's median rent levels being $1,525.

Suburbs of Salt Lake City

West Valley City

West Valley City is a suburb of Salt Lake City, and it had a population of 133,000 people as of 2013 & 136,574 people in 2016. This population makes it the second-largest city in the state of Utah. This city's population continues to grow, and the economy is strong. There are several companies that are based in West Valley City, and they contribute to the rising population. The companies Backcountry and CR England are located here. The median home price is $222,4920, with the price per square foot being $173. This is a growth of 9.6% over the past year, and there is a projected growth of 2.8% in the coming year. Additionally, the median rent for this city is right around $1,450, and all of these numbers are below the Salt Lake Metro area totals.

As a suburb of Salt Lake City, West Valley City is taking advantage of rapid growth along the western and southwestern ends of the Salt Lake Valley region. This growth has been made possible due to a lower cost of living and a younger work force who is taking advantage of growth in the technology industry.

West Jordan

The city of West Jordan is also a suburb of Salt Lake City, and it has a population of 113,699 people. This is a rapidly growing suburb with a strong economy, and it is the fourth most populous city in Utah. The city is dominated by four large retail centers and Jordan Landing was named one of the largest mixed-retail developments in the western part of the nation that brings in over $500,000 in annual revenue. The Mountain American Credit Union and the Jordan School District are also large employers. The median home price in this city is $231,600, and the price per square foot is $165. The real estate market in this area is hot, and it has risen 6.6% in the past year with a projected rise of 2.8% in the next year. Despite this, the average price per foot is still lower than the Salt Lake City Metro area.

Sandy

The city of Sandy is s suburb of Salt Lake City, and it has a population of 95,836 people. This population makes Sandy the sixth-largest city in the state of Utah. Sandy's economy is steady, and it got a boost in 2014 when the city council voted to redesign the downtown area into a resort-style city center called The Cairns over the next 25 years. The largest employers in the city are the Canyon School District, which is a district that was split off of the Jordan School District with over 4,000 employees, and the medical products manufacturer Becton Dickinson with over 1,000 employees. The median home price for Sandy is $304,000 with a median price per square foot at $189. This is a 6.5% increase over the past year with a projected 2.1% increase in the coming year. These prices put the Sandy area higher than the Salt Lake City Metro.

Orem

The city of Orem is a larger suburb of Salt Lake City with a population of 97,499. Orem is part of the larger Provo-Orem Metropolitan area, and that has a population of 526,804 people. It is the fifth-largest city in Utah. This city has the slogan of ‘Family City USA,' and in 2010 Forbes ranked Orem as the fifth best city to raise a family in the nation. This ranking came, in part, to the youthful population you find in this city. It is an excellent place to live for spiritual well-being because of the high number of churches and church members, and there are excellent education opportunities ranging from sixteen elementary schools and three middle and high schools. The Utah Valley University is also located here, and it is one of the biggest employers with 1,520 employees. Other notable employers are the Alpine School District with 1,234 employees, and Adobe with 670 employees. The median home price is $212,600, and this is a growth of 6.1% over the past year, and the price per square foot is $184. While the home price is lower than in the Provo-Orem Metropolitan area as homes there are $302,627, the price per square foot is higher because the Metro's square foot prices are $166.

Ogden

Ogden has a population of 86,701 people, and this makes it the seventh largest city in Utah. This city is a very popular ski destination, and it has three premium ski resorts right around the city limits. There are also several museums and a few gorgeous historical attractions. Additionally, Ogden ranks as one of the best cities in the nation to raise a family.

Ogden has a strong economy with a bright outlook. In the next decade, the current job market is projected to grow over 40%. The unemployment rate is around 5% and dropping as jobs are added each year. Ogden has a younger population, and the median annual income for this area is $40,000 with the per capita income just below $20,000 per year.

The city has a dry summer continental climate that is characterized by very hot and dry summers. It isn't unnatural for highs to reach 95 degrees Fahrenheit or more during June, July, and August. From July to September, the area sees a decent amount of rain in the form of thunderstorms. The winters are cool with moderate to heavy snowfall from October to April.

There are three world-class ski resorts like ClubRec North just 20 minutes from the downtown area that provides the residents of this city with many winter recreational activities. The Historic 25th Street is lined with many shopping centers and boutiques, and there are several museums to visit. If you like trains, this city is a must see as it is home to the historic Union Station Railroad Museum.

There are several educational opportunities located in and around this city. The DaVinci Academy of Science and Arts is a top-rated K-12 charter school that focuses on the sciences and arts. The Weber State University also calls this city home, and it offers professional, technical, and liberal arts certificates.

There are several large employers in this city, and they are varied companies. The largest employer is the McKay-Dee Hospital Center with over 1,950 employees. The second-largest employer is the German-based automotive manufacturer Autoliv with around 1,550 employees.

The housing market in Ogden has rapidly begun to climb, jumping 14.4% in the past year with a projected rise of 4.4% over the next year. Currently, the median home price is $250,000, with the average price per square foot being $101. This city is part of the Ogden Metro area, and the median home price there is $285,000 with the average price per square foot around $173.

St. George

This city is the eighth most populous city in Utah with 82,318 people. This city was ranked as the fifth fastest-growing metropolitan area in the nation in 2015. This city is home to the LDS's oldest operating temple in the world, the St. George Temple. Additionally, St. George is a very family-friendly city with dozens of attractions and museums that are family-oriented. There are also many hiking trails, parks, and outdoor recreational activities to do year round.

The climate of this area is classified as desert southwest, and it is significantly hotter than the rest of Utah. There are long hot summers and short cool winters. The months of June through September typically see average temperates rise to the upper 90s and lower 100s. November through March has average temperatures in the 60s with low to no snow amounts.

There are also a few large employers that help to support the local economy. SkyWest Airlines has its headquarters in St. George, and it employs over 800 people. Additionally, retail giant Walmart has a distribution center just outside the city, and it employs over 400 people. The city council and the school districts in the area also play a large part in the city's employment numbers.

There are several large universities and education centers located in this city, and there are also several K-12 schools to choose from. The Dixie State University is a four-year institution who has over 9,000 students enrolled. Also, the University of Phoenix and Stevens-Henager College have education centers in the city.

The median home price in St. George is $220,800. This price represents an increase of 6.2% over the past year, and the most prices are projected to rise over the coming year by just over 3%. The median price per square foot in this city is $160, and this ties it in price per square foot with the St. George Metro area. The median rental rate in St. George is $1,300, and this is also lower than the St. George Metro area's median rent price of $1,341.

Provo

Provo has a population of 116,868 people, and this makes it the third-largest city in Utah. It is part of the second-largest metropolitan area in the state, the Provo-Orem Metropolitan area. In 2015, Forbes named this city as one of the ‘Best Small and Medium Sized Cities for Business and Careers.' Provo is very family-friendly, and it offers dozens of year-round events and festivals to keep the residents entertained.

This city has a huge dining culture that plays a vital role in the economy. There are over 100 restaurants, two large shopping centers, galleries, and several large companies that all help support the local economy. In 2016, it was ranked as the number one fastest growing metro for job growth in the nation.

There is an average of 222 sunny days in Provo each year, and the city has long, hot summers ranging from April until September with highs in the upper 80s. The winters are short and snowy with the average temperatures dipping to the mid-20s in December through February.

Provo has a broad range of cultural events and places to visit year-round. The Covey Center for the Arts is a huge performing arts center that shows ballets, musical performances,and plays. Additionally, Provo is home to the largest LDS Church's Missionary Training Center in the nation with 475 LDS members entering per week for training courses. Finally, there are dozens of festivals that go on year-round.

This city is home to some of the best secondary education schools in the nation. Brigham Young University is located here, and it is the third-largest private university in the nation with almost 40,000 students. As more students have enrolled at BYU, Provo has enjoyed sustained growth due to an increase in jobs in industries such as the hospitality industry that cater to college students. The Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions is also based here.

The biggest employer in Provo is Brigham Young University with over 5,000 employees. Utah Valley Regional Medical Center is the second-largest employer with 2,104 employees, and Vivint rounds of the top three largest employers with between 2,000 and 2,900 employees.

The median home price in Provo is $255,853, and it had a growth of 6.7% in the past year. With a projected growth of 0.9% in the next year, Provo's home costs are lower than the Provo-Orem Metropolitan area as the median home prices there are $302,627. The price per square foot is higher because the Metro's square foot prices are $166, while Provo's are $178.

Utah Census Data

According to the United States Census an estimated 3,051,217 people live in the state of Utah. The state has 82,169.62 mi² of land area, which gave it a population density of 37.13 per mi². Here is a list of cities, towns & Census Designated Places across the state, with their estimated population as of June 2016 & the 2010 United States Census. For Census Designated Places (CDP) where there was no population estimate available for 2016, the 2011-2015 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates data was used.

All table columns are sortable. Click on the column headers to sort by that column. Click again to sort low to high. Cities with higher levels of population growth typically see the increased demand drive faster real estate price appreciation.

Rank

Geography

County

2016 Pop

2010 Pop

Change

% △

Land mi²

Pop Den mi²

1

Salt Lake City

Salt Lake

193,744

186,440

7,304

3.92%

111.11

1,743.71

2

West Valley City

Salt Lake

136,574

129,480

7,094

5.48%

35.56

3,840.66

3

Provo

Utah

116,868

112,488

4,380

3.89%

41.67

2,804.61

4

West Jordan

Salt Lake

113,699

103,712

9,987

9.63%

32.46

3,502.74

5

Orem

Utah

97,499

88,328

9,171

10.38%

18.29

5,330.73

6

Sandy

Salt Lake

95,836

87,461

8,375

9.58%

22.87

4,190.47

7

Ogden

Weber

86,701

82,825

3,876

4.68%

27.09

3,200.48

8

St. George

Washington

82,318

72,897

9,421

12.92%

70.4

1,169.29

9

Layton

Davis

75,655

67,311

8,344

12.40%

22

3,438.86

10

South Jordan

Salt Lake

69,034

50,418

18,616

36.92%

22.05

3,130.79

11

Lehi

Utah

61,130

47,407

13,723

28.95%

26.34

2,320.80

12

Taylorsville

Salt Lake

60,436

58,652

1,784

3.04%

10.85

5,570.14

Millcreek CDP

Salt Lake

60,119

62,139

-2,020

-3.25%

13.65

4,404.32

13

Logan

Cache

50,676

48,174

2,502

5.19%

17.94

2,824.75

14

Murray

Salt Lake

49,230

46,746

2,484

5.31%

12.29

4,005.70

15

Draper

Salt Lake & Utah

47,328

42,274

5,054

11.96%

30.08

1,573.40

16

Bountiful

Davis

44,078

42,552

1,526

3.59%

13.45

3,277.17

17

Riverton

Salt Lake

42,838

38,753

4,085

10.54%

12.63

3,391.77

18

Spanish Fork

Utah

38,861

34,691

4,170

12.02%

15.39

2,525.08

19

Pleasant Grove

Utah

38,756

33,509

5,247

15.66%

9.17

4,226.39

20

Roy

Weber

38,201

36,884

1,317

3.57%

7.92

4,823.36

Kearns CDP

Salt Lake

36,530

35,731

799

2.24%

4.63

7,889.85

21

Herriman

Salt Lake

35,385

21,785

13,600

62.43%

20.27

1,745.68

22

Cottonwood Heights

Salt Lake

34,285

33,433

852

2.55%

8.83

3,882.79

23

Tooele

Tooele

33,762

31,605

2,157

6.82%

21.45

1,573.99

24

Springville

Utah

33,044

29,466

3,578

12.14%

14.38

2,297.91

25

Midvale

Salt Lake

33,035

27,964

5,071

18.13%

5.93

5,570.83

26

Kaysville

Davis

31,243

27,300

3,943

14.44%

10.45

2,989.76

27

Cedar City

Iron

31,223

28,857

2,366

8.20%

36.83

847.76

28

Clearfield

Davis

30,855

30,112

743

2.47%

7.62

4,049.21

29

Holladay

Salt Lake

30,831

26,472

4,359

16.47%

7.92

3,892.80

30

Eagle Mountain

Utah

29,202

21,415

7,787

36.36%

44.46

656.82

31

American Fork

Utah

28,770

26,263

2,507

9.55%

9.2

3,127.17

32

Syracuse

Davis

28,407

24,331

4,076

16.75%

9.57

2,968.34

Magna CDP

Salt Lake

27,451

26,505

946

3.57%

7.92

3,466.04

33

Saratoga Springs

Utah

26,887

17,781

9,106

51.21%

16.61

1,618.72

34

Washington

Washington

25,339

18,761

6,578

35.06%

32.86

771.12

35

South Salt Lake

Salt Lake

24,630

23,617

1,013

4.29%

6.94

3,548.99

36

Farmington

Davis

23,140

18,275

4,865

26.62%

9.86

2,346.86

37

Clinton

Davis

21,672

20,426

1,246

6.10%

5.85

3,704.62

38

North Salt Lake

Davis

20,301

16,322

3,979

24.38%

8.52

2,382.75

39

Payson

Utah

19,810

18,294

1,516

8.29%

8.66

2,287.53

40

Brigham City

Box Elder

18,975

17,899

1,076

6.01%

23.84

795.93

41

North Ogden

Weber

18,791

17,357

1,434

8.26%

7.04

2,669.18

42

Highland

Utah

18,647

15,523

3,124

20.12%

8.52

2,188.62

43

Centerville

Davis

17,286

15,335

1,951

12.72%

5.98

2,890.64

44

South Ogden

Weber

17,094

16,532

562

3.40%

3.69

4,632.52

45

Hurricane

Washington

16,159

13,748

2,411

17.54%

51.2

315.61

46

Heber

Wasatch

14,969

11,362

3,607

31.75%

8.41

1,779.90

47

West Haven

Weber

12,329

10,272

2,057

20.03%

10.3

1,196.99

48

Bluffdale

Salt Lake

11,809

7,598

4,211

55.42%

10.22

1,155.48

49

Woods Cross

Davis

11,351

9,761

1,590

16.29%

3.88

2,925.52

50

Smithfield

Cache

11,146

9,495

1,651

17.39%

4.98

2,238.15

51

Santaquin

Utah & Juab

11,062

9,128

1,934

21.19%

10.39

1,064.68

52

Lindon

Utah

10,939

10,070

869

8.63%

8.38

1,305.37

53

Vernal

Uintah

10,681

9,089

1,592

17.52%

4.61

2,316.92

54

North Logan

Cache

10,590

8,269

2,321

28.07%

6.96

1,521.55

55

West Point

Davis

10,548

9,511

1,037

10.90%

7.3

1,444.93

56

Grantsville

Tooele

10,459

8,893

1,566

17.61%

19.34

540.80

57

Cedar Hills

Utah

10,374

9,796

578

5.90%

2.76

3,758.70

58

Alpine

Utah

10,361

9,555

806

8.44%

7.42

1,396.36

59

Pleasant View

Weber

9,716

7,979

1,737

21.77%

6.91

1,406.08

60

Mapleton

Utah

9,512

7,979

1,533

19.21%

12.58

756.12

61

Washington Terrace

Weber

9,198

9,067

131

1.44%

1.97

4,669.04

Stansbury Park CDP

Tooele

8,752

5,145

3,607

70.11%

1.25

7,001.60

62

Riverdale

Weber

8,710

8,426

284

3.37%

4.57

1,905.91

63

Hooper

Weber

8,466

7,218

1,248

17.29%

26.88

314.96

64

Tremonton

Box Elder

8,426

7,647

779

10.19%

7.8

1,080.26

65

Price

Carbon

8,371

8,715

-344

-3.95%

5.07

1,651.08

66

Park City

Summit & Wasatch

8,299

7,558

741

9.80%

17.57

472.34

67

Ivins

Washington

8,132

6,753

1,379

20.42%

9.71

837.49

68

Hyrum

Cache

8,027

7,609

418

5.49%

4.83

1,661.90

Summit Park CDP

Summit

8,025

7,775

250

3.22%

15.77

508.88

69

Salem

Utah

7,831

6,423

1,408

21.92%

10.17

770.01

70

Richfield

Sevier

7,723

7,551

172

2.28%

5.69

1,357.29

71

Providence

Cache

7,270

7,075

195

2.76%

3.79

1,918.21

72

South Weber

Davis

7,196

6,051

1,145

18.92%

4.67

1,540.90

73

Ephraim

Sanpete

7,072

6,135

937

15.27%

3.73

1,895.98

74

Santa Clara

Washington

7,065

6,003

1,062

17.69%

5.52

1,279.89

75

Roosevelt

Duchesne

6,905

6,046

859

14.21%

5.57

1,239.68

76

Farr West

Weber

6,755

5,928

827

13.95%

6.04

1,118.38

77

Nibley

Cache

6,747

5,438

1,309

24.07%

4.03

1,674.19

78

Enoch

Iron

6,568

5,803

765

13.18%

7.21

910.96

79

Plain City

Weber

6,493

5,476

1,017

18.57%

11.73

553.54

80

Harrisville

Weber

6,376

5,567

809

14.53%

3.01

2,118.27

Snyderville CDP

Summit

6,252

5,612

640

11.40%

10.82

577.82

81

Fruit Heights

Davis

6,161

4,987

1,174

23.54%

2.27

2,714.10

82

Nephi

Juab

5,784

5,389

395

7.33%

4.58

1,262.88

83

West Bountiful

Davis

5,574

5,265

309

5.87%

3.25

1,715.08

White City CDP

Salt Lake

5,497

5,407

90

1.66%

0.81

6,786.42

84

Moab

Grand

5,242

5,046

196

3.88%

4.13

1,269.25

85

Sunset

Davis

5,234

5,122

112

2.19%

1.31

3,995.42

86

Midway

Wasatch

4,898

3,845

1,053

27.39%

5.24

934.73

87

Perry

Box Elder

4,846

4,512

334

7.40%

8.04

602.74

88

Kanab

Kane

4,526

4,312

214

4.96%

14.59

310.21

89

Hyde Park

Cache

4,513

3,833

680

17.74%

3.37

1,339.17

Maeser CDP

Uintah

4,260

3,601

659

18.30%

6.47

658.42

90

La Verkin

Washington

4,246

4,060

186

4.58%

12.69

334.59

91

Morgan

Morgan

4,154

3,687

467

12.67%

3.21

1,294.08

92

Blanding

San Juan

4,036

3,375

661

19.59%

13.04

309.51

93

Vineyard

Utah

3,953

139

3,814

2743.88%

4.35

908.74

Silver Summit CDP

Summit

3,768

3,632

136

3.74%

16.96

222.17

94

Wellsville

Cache

3,678

3,432

246

7.17%

6.6

557.27

95

Delta

Millard

3,509

3,436

73

2.12%

4.64

756.25

96

Elk Ridge

Utah

3,430

2,436

994

40.80%

2.68

1,279.85

97

Manti

Sanpete

3,396

3,276

120

3.66%

2.15

1,579.53

98

Mount Pleasant

Sanpete

3,363

3,260

103

3.16%

2.88

1,167.71

99

Gunnison

Sanpete

3,325

3,285

40

1.22%

5.3

627.36

100

Beaver

Beaver

3,048

3,112

-64

-2.06%

6.49

469.65

101

Parowan

Iron

2,986

2,790

196

7.03%

6.66

448.35

Mountain Green CDP

Morgan

2,981

2,309

672

29.10%

5.42

550.00

102

Hildale

Washington

2,945

2,726

219

8.03%

2.94

1,001.70

103

Richmond

Cache

2,600

2,470

130

5.26%

3.45

753.62

104

Salina

Sevier

2,551

2,489

62

2.49%

6.18

412.78

105

Garland

Box Elder

2,492

2,400

92

3.83%

1.89

1,318.52

106

Fillmore

Millard

2,491

2,435

56

2.30%

6.08

409.70

107

Monroe

Sevier

2,321

2,256

65

2.88%

3.57

650.14

108

Monticello

San Juan

2,213

1,972

241

12.22%

4.47

495.08

Erda CDP

Tooele

2,181

4,642

-2,461

-53.02%

22.22

98.15

109

Naples

Uintah

2,130

1,755

375

21.37%

6.6

322.73

110

Kamas

Summit

2,109

1,811

298

16.45%

3.66

576.23

111

Helper

Carbon

2,095

2,201

-106

-4.82%

1.75

1,197.14

South Willard CDP

Box Elder

1,992

1,571

421

26.80%

5.85

340.51

112

Millville

Cache

1,986

1,829

157

8.58%

2.11

941.23

113

Huntington

Emery

1,975

2,129

-154

-7.23%

2.04

968.14

114

River Heights

Cache

1,962

1,734

228

13.15%

0.63

3,114.29

Liberty CDP

Weber

1,881

1,257

624

49.64%

5.85

321.54

Emigration Canyon CDP

Salt Lake

1,838

1,567

271

17.29%

18.98

96.84

115

Enterprise

Washington

1,823

1,711

112

6.55%

7.74

235.53

116

Willard

Box Elder

1,812

1,772

40

2.26%

5.67

319.58

117

Lewiston

Cache

1,806

1,766

40

2.27%

25.59

70.57

118

Duchesne

Duchesne

1,755

1,690

65

3.85%

2.53

693.68

119

Marriott-Slaterville

Weber

1,751

1,701

50

2.94%

7.18

243.87

120

Panguitch

Garfield

1,665

1,520

145

9.54%

2.14

778.04

121

Mona

Juab

1,662

1,547

115

7.43%

2.77

600.00

122

Oakley

Summit

1,624

1,470

154

10.48%

6.88

236.05

123

Wellington

Carbon

1,609

1,676

-67

-4.00%

5.13

313.65

124

East Carbon City

Carbon

1,572

1,678

-106

-6.32%

12.1

129.92

Carbonville CDP

Carbon

1,558

1,567

-9

-0.57%

5.56

280.22

125

Toquerville

Washington

1,547

1,370

177

12.92%

15.13

102.25

Benjamin CDP

Utah

1,545

1,145

400

34.93%

12.3

125.61

126

Ferron

Emery

1,534

1,626

-92

-5.66%

2.14

716.82

127

Castle Dale

Emery

1,528

1,630

-102

-6.26%

2.16

707.41

128

Woodland Hills

Utah

1,527

1,344

183

13.62%

2.02

755.94

129

Honeyville

Box Elder

1,501

1,441

60

4.16%

11.81

127.10

130

Genola

Utah

1,484

1,370

114

8.32%

13.42

110.58

131

Moroni

Sanpete

1,482

1,423

59

4.15%

1.07

1,385.05

132

Coalville

Summit

1,457

1,363

94

6.90%

3.25

448.31

133

Centerfield

Sanpete

1,416

1,367

49

3.58%

1.8

786.67

Granite CDP

Salt Lake

1,414

1,932

-518

-26.81%

2.07

683.09

134

Wendover

Tooele

1,407

1,400

7

0.50%

9.06

155.30

135

Mendon

Cache

1,386

1,282

104

8.11%

1.25

1,108.80

136

Orangeville

Emery

1,378

1,470

-92

-6.26%

1.35

1,020.74

137

Milford

Beaver

1,357

1,409

-52

-3.69%

3.08

440.58

138

Francis

Summit

1,347

1,077

270

25.07%

2.49

540.96

139

Uintah

Weber

1,333

1,322

11

0.83%

1.06

1,257.55

140

Fairview

Sanpete

1,288

1,247

41

3.29%

1.24

1,038.71

Spring Glen CDP

Carbon

1,217

1126

91

8.08%

3.41

356.89

Benson CDP

Cache

1,190

1485

-295

-19.87%

30.4

39.14

Oljato-Monument Valley CDP

San Juan

1,151

674

477

70.77%

28.94

39.77

141

Fountain Green

Sanpete

1,104

1,071

33

3.08%

1.41

782.98

142

Elwood

Box Elder

1,077

1,034

43

4.16%

7.81

137.90

143

Ballard

Uintah

1,071

801

270

33.71%

13.8

77.61

144

Daniel

Wasatch

1,061

938

123

13.11%

3.27

324.46

145

Aurora

Sevier

1,043

1,016

27

2.66%

1.04

1,002.88

146

Spring City

Sanpete

1,023

988

35

3.54%

1.33

769.17

147

Paradise

Cache

950

904

46

5.09%

1.29

736.43

West Mountain CDP

Utah

950

1186

-236

-19.90%

10.69

88.87

148

Goshen

Utah

949

921

28

3.04%

0.81

1,171.60

149

Green River

Emery

943

952

-9

-0.95%

12.46

75.68

150

Levan

Juab

898

841

57

6.78%

0.78

1,151.28

151

Minersville

Beaver

887

907

-20

-2.21%

0.64

1,385.94

152

Hideout

Wasatch

875

656

219

33.38%

3.29

265.96

153

Henefer

Summit

871

766

105

13.71%

1.7

512.35

154

Bear River City

Box Elder

869

853

16

1.88%

1.54

564.29

155

Elsinore

Sevier

866

847

19

2.24%

1.3

666.15

156

Leeds

Washington

852

820

32

3.90%

3.71

229.65

Marion CDP

Summit

852

685

167

24.38%

5.82

146.39

Riverside CDP

Box Elder

829

760

69

9.08%

6.71

123.55

157

Annabella

Sevier

809

795

14

1.76%

0.7

1,155.71

158

Rocky Ridge

Juab

806

733

73

9.96%

2.12

380.19

Wolf Creek CDP

Weber

800

1,336

-536

-40.12%

3.16

253.16

159

Newton

Cache

797

789

8

1.01%

0.79

1,008.86

160

Escalante

Garfield

787

797

-10

-1.25%

2.94

267.69

161

Mantua

Box Elder

786

687

99

14.41%

4.8

163.75

Fort Duchesne CDP

Uintah

784

714

70

9.80%

7.01

111.84

Hoytsville CDP

Summit

761

607

154

25.37%

4.45

171.01

Central CDP

Washington

742

613

129

21.04%

2.51

295.62

162

Redmond

Sevier

740

730

10

1.37%

0.96

770.83

163

Apple Valley

Washington

739

701

38

5.42%

40.75

18.13

West Wood CDP

Carbon

738

844

-106

-12.56%

1.06

696.23

Lake Shore CDP

Utah

723

817

-94

-11.51%

10.92

66.21

164

Clarkston

Cache

711

666

45

6.76%

0.97

732.99

165

Corinne

Box Elder

703

685

18

2.63%

3.82

184.03

166

Hinckley

Millard

698

696

2

0.29%

5.05

138.22

Enterprise CDP

Morgan

683

605

78

12.89%

3.78

180.69

167

Eureka

Juab

682

669

13

1.94%

1.51

451.66

Thatcher CDP

Box Elder

665

789

-124

-15.72%

11.7

56.84

Copperton CDP

Salt Lake

648

826

-178

-21.55%

6.41

101.09

168

Stockton

Tooele

647

616

31

5.03%

1.62

399.38

169

Oak City

Millard

644

578

66

11.42%

0.92

700.00

170

Huntsville

Weber

632

608

24

3.95%

0.75

842.67

Eden CDP

Weber

627

600

27

4.50%

4.2

149.29

171

Myton

Duchesne

624

569

55

9.67%

1.02

611.76

172

Virgin

Washington

608

596

12

2.01%

16.37

37.14

Dugway CDP

Tooele

597

795

-198

-24.91%

5.21

114.59

173

Garden City

Rich

587

562

25

4.45%

8.38

70.05

174

Loa

Wayne

585

572

13

2.27%

0.9

650.00

175

Orderville

Kane

573

577

-4

-0.69%

9.15

62.62

176

Springdale

Washington

570

529

41

7.75%

4.63

123.11

177

Central Valley

Sevier

561

528

33

6.25%

1.36

412.50

178

Mayfield

Sanpete

531

496

35

7.06%

0.99

536.36

Halchita CDP

San Juan

521

266

255

95.86%

17.11

30.45

Navajo Mountain CDP

San Juan

521

354

167

47.18%

33.35

15.62

179

Paragonah

Iron

520

488

32

6.56%

0.64

812.50

180

Amalga

Cache

516

488

28

5.74%

3.42

150.88

181

Trenton

Cache

512

464

48

10.34%

7.28

70.33

182

Tropic

Garfield

509

530

-21

-3.96%

8.37

60.81

183

Circleville

Piute

501

547

-46

-8.41%

9.08

55.18

Wanship CDP

Summit

497

400

97

24.25%

5.05

98.42

Veyo CDP

Washington

492

483

9

1.86%

2.07

237.68

Dammeron Valley CDP

Washington

484

803

-319

-39.73%

4.89

98.98

184

Big Water

Kane

480

475

5

1.05%

6.16

77.92

185

Rush Valley

Tooele

479

447

32

7.16%

18.34

26.12

186

Glenwood

Sevier

473

464

9

1.94%

0.54

875.93

187

Charleston

Wasatch

471

415

56

13.49%

2.03

232.02

188

Kanosh

Millard

466

474

-8

-1.69%

0.84

554.76

189

Randolph

Rich

466

464

2

0.43%

1.04

448.08

190

Fielding

Box Elder

459

455

4

0.88%

0.45

1,020.00

Spring Lake CDP

Utah

454

458

-4

-0.87%

1.18

384.75

Aneth CDP

San Juan

446

501

-55

-10.98%

11.03

40.44

191

Cleveland

Emery

442

464

-22

-4.74%

0.85

520.00

192

Sigurd

Sevier

438

429

9

2.10%

0.98

446.94

193

Plymouth

Box Elder

431

414

17

4.11%

0.65

663.08

Peter CDP

Cache

431

324

107

33.02%

21.48

20.07

Neola CDP

Duchesne

419

461

-42

-9.11%

3.77

111.14

Timber Lakes CDP

Wasatch

410

607

-197

-32.45%

8.84

46.38

194

Elmo

Emery

408

418

-10

-2.39%

0.65

627.69

Cove CDP

Cache

406

460

-54

-11.74%

14.59

27.83

195

Marysvale

Piute

403

408

-5

-1.23%

17.61

22.88

196

Cedar Fort

Utah

389

368

21

5.71%

21.24

18.31

197

Alta

Salt Lake

387

383

4

1.04%

4.61

83.95

Palmyra CDP

Utah

387

491

-104

-21.18%

11.42

33.89

198

Kanarraville

Iron

378

355

23

6.48%

0.46

821.74

199

Holden

Millard

377

378

-1

-0.26%

0.54

698.15

200

Glendale

Kane

373

381

-8

-2.10%

7.79

47.88

Bluff CDP

San Juan

358

258

100

38.76%

22.03

16.25

201

Wales

Sanpete

355

302

53

17.55%

0.31

1,145.16

Montezuma Creek CDP

San Juan

350

335

15

4.48%

11.96

29.26

202

Castle Valley

Grand

348

319

29

9.09%

8.04

43.28

203

Joseph

Sevier

346

344

2

0.58%

0.91

380.22

204

Wallsburg

Wasatch

340

250

90

36.00%

0.52

653.85

205

Deweyville

Box Elder

339

332

7

2.11%

6.4

52.97

206

Koosharem

Sevier

331

327

4

1.22%

0.86

384.88

207

Bicknell

Wayne

327

327

0

0.00%

0.61

536.07

208

Manila

Daggett

324

310

14

4.52%

0.87

372.41

209

Scipio

Millard

320

327

-7

-2.14%

0.93

344.09

211

Cornish

Cache

315

288

27

9.38%

4.87

64.68

210

Meadow

Millard

315

310

5

1.61%

0.51

617.65

Deseret CDP

Millard

309

353

-44

-12.46%

3.07

100.65

212

Sterling

Sanpete

302

262

40

15.27%

0.3

1,006.67

Newcastle CDP

Iron

299

247

52

21.05%

3.98

75.13

Sutherland CDP

Millard

296

165

131

79.39%

2.17

136.41

213

Vernon

Tooele

294

243

51

20.99%

7.53

39.04

Avon CDP

Cache

293

367

-74

-20.16%

7.13

41.09

White Mesa CDP

San Juan

276

242

34

14.05%

15.65

17.64

Spanish Valley CDP

San Juan

276

491

-215

-43.79%

14.2

19.44

214

Rockville

Washington

273

245

28

11.43%

8.23

33.17

La Sal CDP

San Juan

267

395

-128

-32.41%

47.56

5.61

215

Emery

Emery

266

288

-22

-7.64%

1.17

227.35

216

Laketown

Rich

259

248

11

4.44%

2.58

100.39

217

Portage

Box Elder

257

245

12

4.90%

2.99

85.95

218

Altamont

Duchesne

255

225

30

13.33%

0.14

1,821.43

219

Lyman

Wayne

251

258

-7

-2.71%

1.88

133.51

220

Howell

Box Elder

250

245

5

2.04%

35.35

7.07

221

Fayette

Sanpete

249

242

7

2.89%

0.42

592.86

222

Torrey

Wayne

241

182

59

32.42%

0.51

472.55

223

Leamington

Millard

231

226

5

2.21%

1.55

149.03

224

Boulder

Garfield

225

226

-1

-0.44%

20.92

10.76

225

Bryce Canyon City

Garfield

223

198

25

12.63%

3.46

64.45

Elberta CDP

Utah

223

256

-33

-12.89%

13.65

16.34

226

Henrieville

Garfield

220

230

-10

-4.35%

1.56

141.03

227

New Harmony

Washington

220

207

13

6.28%

0.61

360.66

228

Hanksville

Wayne

214

219

-5

-2.28%

1.9

112.63

229

Interlaken

Wasatch

209

209

0

0.00%

0.223

937.22

230

Independence

Wasatch

204

164

40

24.39%

30.59

6.67

Jensen CDP

Uintah

197

412

-215

-52.18%

3.23

60.99

231

Clawson

Emery

190

163

27

16.56%

0.71

267.61

232

Woodruff

Rich

188

180

8

4.44%

0.46

408.70

Randlett CDP

Uintah

184

220

-36

-16.36%

5.22

35.25

233

Junction

Piute

174

191

-17

-8.90%

14.44

12.05

234

Snowville

Box Elder

172

167

5

2.99%

1.54

111.69

236

Cannonville

Garfield

169

167

2

1.20%

1.98

85.35

235

Tabiona

Duchesne

169

171

-2

-1.17%

0.13

1,300.00

Woodland CDP

Summit

163

343

-180

-52.48%

2.26

72.12

Garden CDP

Rich

161

181

-20

-11.05%

26.52

6.07

237

Kingston

Piute

158

173

-15

-8.67%

5.32

29.70

Tselakai Dezza CDP

San Juan

155

109

46

42.20%

19.98

7.76

238

Dutch John

Daggett

150

151

-1

-0.66%

2.4

62.50

Pine Valley CDP

Washington

150

186

-36

-19.35%

3.44

43.60

Bluebell CDP

Duchesne

149

293

-144

-49.15%

9.74

15.30

Samak CDP

Summit

146

287

-141

-49.13%

4.7

31.06

Dutch John CDP

Daggett

143

145

-2

-1.38%

2.39

59.83

Summit CDP

Iron

142

160

-18

-11.25%

0.68

208.82

239

Hatch

Garfield

140

133

7

5.26%

0.48

291.67

240

Fairfield

Utah

136

119

17

14.29%

26.71

5.09

Teasdale CDP

Wayne

132

191

-59

-30.89%

4.01

32.92

Peoa CDP

Summit

130

253

-123

-48.62%

2.85

45.61

Fremont CDP

Wayne

127

145

-18

-12.41%

1.75

72.57

Kenilworth CDP

Carbon

123

180

-57

-31.67%

0.75

164.00

242

Alton

Kane

119

119

0

0.00%

2.08

57.21

241

Antimony

Garfield

119

122

-3

-2.46%

10.11

11.77

243

Lynndyl

Millard

113

106

7

6.60%

3.56

31.74

Whiterocks CDP

Uintah

108

289

-181

-62.63%

2.35

45.96

Echo CDP

Summit

99

56

43

76.79%

0.82

120.73

Flaming Gorge CDP

Daggett

90

83

7

8.43%

2.28

39.47

244

Brian Head

Iron

89

83

6

7.23%

3.1

28.71

Thompson Springs CDP

Grand

85

39

46

117.95%

3.19

26.65

245

Ophir

Tooele

55

38

17

44.74%

0.14

392.86

246

Scofield

Carbon

23

24

-1

-4.17%

0.7

32.86

Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2016
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division
Release Date: May 2017.

Qualifying for a Home Loan in Utah

Conforming Mortgages

As of 2019 the conforming loan limit across the United States is set to $484,350, with a ceiling of 150% that amount in areas where median home values are higher. High local affordability makes the $484,350 ceiling apply across most of the state for single unit homes. Dual unit homes have a limit of $620,200, triple unit homes have a limit of $749,650 & quadruple unit homes have a limit of $931,600. People buying properties in the the Summit Park & Salt Lake City metro areas have higher conforming mortgage thresholds.

County

Metropolitan Designation

1 Unit Limit

2 Unit Limit

3 Unit Limit

4 Unit Limit

Salt Lake

Salt Lake City, Ut

$600,300

$768,500

$928,950

$1,154,450

Summit

Summit Park, Ut

$726,525

$930,300

$1,124,475

$1,397,400

Tooele

Salt Lake City, Ut

$600,300

$768,500

$928,950

$1,154,450

All Others

$484,350

$620,200

$749,650

$931,600

Home buyers who are borrowing more than the above amounts will likely need to obtain a jumbo mortgage. Jumbo loans typically have a slightly higher rate of interest than conforming mortgages, though spreads vary based on credit market conditions.

Several different types of home loans are available in the Beehive State. Fixed-rate loans are very common, and the terms include thirty, twenty, fifteen, and ten years. The longer the life of the mortgage, the lower the monthly payment will be, which is why the 30-year loan is the most popular. The downside of this, however, is that the APR is higher compared to shorter-term loans. The difference can be as large as a full percentage point.

In addition to conventional 30-year and 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, lenders offer a wide variety of adjustable rate mortgages (ARM’s). While these instruments have lost some of their attractiveness during the recession, there are still circumstances where they offer the only way for a borrower to qualify. Properly structured (that is, with strict limits on how much the rate can fluctuate), such loans are still a legitimate way for borrowers to purchase a home and start building equity while establishing their credit so as to qualify for conventional loans upon the ARM’s expiration. These loans provide interest rates that fluctuate, as the name implies. The APR is usually fixed for an initial term, such as three, five, seven or ten years. Then the rate adjusts depending on the performance of a referenced index rate, usually once per year; but it can change more frequently. The loan agreement may state in detail how frequently the APR can change, and it may also include a rate cap to prevent large changes.

Balloon mortgages are another route for aspiring homeowners. Balloon mortgages are when a large portion of the borrowed principle is repaid in a single payment at the end of the loan period. Balloon loans are not common for most residential buyers, but are more common for commercial loans and people with significant financial assets.

A few lenders in the Behive State offer interest-only loans, but usually only for periods of three years. These are mortgages where payments are applied only to interest for a period of time. The loan's principal isn't paid down, so the monthly payments are very low. The low monthly payments only lasts a few years, however. Typically, it's about three years. After this period, monthly payments spike because the loan's principal hasn't been reduced & the remainder of the loan must be paid off in a compressed period of time. For example, on a 3 year IO 30-year loan, the first 3 years are interest only payments, then the loan principal must be paid in full in the subsequent 27 years.

When qualifying for a loan, a credit score of 720 or better can help secure a favorable loan. Some mortgage lenders in strong markets like Salt Lake City have approved borrowers with credit scores around 640. The best rates and deals will be obtained with a score above 740. There is a lot of competition among lenders, and this environment can create nice perks for borrowers. For example, some banks will offer special deals on closing costs for borrowers who qualify. The cost might be added to the mortgage or the bank will pay the closing costs but add a few basis points to the APR.

A debt-to-income ratio of 40% and a down payment of 20% are what most banks want to see on a home loan application. They will accept worse numbers, but fees and APR's could go up as a result. Also, a down payment of less than 20% typically results in required mortgage insurance. This down payment requirement does not apply for Federal assistance programs such as FHA, in which applicants can have a lower credit score and income but still receive financing.

The piggyback loan is another type of mortgage which is simply two mortgages in one. The piggyback loan can eliminate the need for private mortgage insurance by covering 80% of the home's value with the first loan, while the second loan helps to pay for part of the down payment.

Government Programs

Federal Assistance Programs

Prospective home buyers who don't find what they're looking for at one of the state's private banks may want to take a look at some of the mortgage options the federal government offers. One of them is the loan program at the Veterans Administration, which provides mortgages with zero down. On top of that great deal, VA loans do not require private mortgage insurance. The agency does, however, charge a funding fee, and this varies from 1.2% to 3.3%. Making a voluntary down payment will reduce this charge. And in case you're wondering, yes you do have to be a qualified veteran to get one of these unbeatable deals.

If you're not a vet, you may want to consider the Federal Housing Administration's home loan services. The FHA offers loans to people who have a credit score of at least 580 and who can put at least 3.5% down. The government agency also offers mortgages for lower credit scores, but it requires more money down with these loans.

USDA loans can help people with low incomes in rural parts of the state qualify for a subsidized low-interest loan.

Utah Real Estate Government Financing Programs

With the skyrocketing costs of real estate, more people may be turning to government-funded real estate financing programs. These programs typically have looser credit standards, a higher acceptance rate, and you may not need much of a down payment, or any at all.

First-Time Homebuyers – Pioneer Grant

If you live in Utah and you're a first-time homebuyer, there is a program that will give you up to $10,000 to put down on your home. It goes by county, so you do have to check if your specific county has it. Additionally, this is grant money, so you won't have to worry about paying it back for as long as you occupy the property. We'll look at the Provo-specific one, so you get an idea of eligibility requirements, but almost every county in Utah has this program. The qualifications for this program include:

You have to purchase a home with Provo's city limits

Your home's purchase price cannot exceed $196,531

Your household must fall within the income guidelines

When you buy a house, you can't displace a current tenant.

The home buyer must put at least $1,000 of their own money down.

If you sell the property within two years of purchasing it, you'll get a $5,000 penalty.

The house must be a single-family residence, a townhome, or half of a twin home to qualify.

If you meet these requirements, it is generally very easy to apply for and obtain this money. However, it usually takes two to three weeks to receive the money after the closing process is complete.

Home Start Program

The Home Start Program is another grant program the state of Utah offers to people who want to purchase a home. All buyers are eligible for this grant, and it is on a first-come, first-serve basis. You'll receive up to $7,500 to put toward your down payment or closing costs if you meet the eligibility requirements, and you request the correct one as they go by county. The eligibility requirements are:

must occupy the property as primary residence

county-based property price limits ($290,500 to $307,500)

household income limits based on persons in family (ranging from $41,350 for single-person homes to $77,950 for homes with 8 people in the family)

Chenoa Fund

All homebuyers are eligible.

If this is your first home, you must complete a home owner's education course

There are purchase limits by county

You have to live in the home as your primary residence

Manufactured or mobile homes are not eligible

You must fall within the income limit for your household size

The Chenoa Fund is a more specialized grant program that is designed for people who have a 30-year FHA home loan. You have two options for down payment assistance with this program. You can choose Forgivable Financing or Repayable Financing for your grant money, and eligibility restrictions apply for both.

Home Choice

Must qualify for a 30-year FHA loan

Your income must fall within the program's income limits

You can only use the funds for purchasing your home

The property must be your primary residence

You can't use the money for renovations

You must have a credit score of 620 or higher

Non-occupant co-borrowers are allowed to help

Your first mortgage financing provided by CBC Mortgage Agency

If you have a disability, or if you have a family member who has a disability, the Home Choice program can help you purchase a home. Additionally, it gives first-time homebuyers financial counseling and assistance, and the mortgages typically have interest rates of 1% to 3%. You may get direct down payment funding or your closing costs paid with this program. You have to earn 80% or less of your area's median income and have proof of a disability in order to be considered eligible for this program.

Natural Disasters

Earthquakes

Utah has a high to very earthquake risk. Here are county-by-county risk profiles.

Standard rental and homeowner insurance policies typically do not cover earthquake damage, though they usually cover losses caused by fires which resulted from an earthquake. You can supplement your homeowner's insurance with an earthquake policy.

Flood Insurance

Homeowner's insurance policies typically do not cover flooding. Most of the state of Utah is considered to have a very low flooding risk. The following counties have a moderate flooding risk: Summit & Washington.

The NFIP does not charge nearly enough to cover the expected costs of its liabilities. The assessments are not sufficient to build any buffer to cover an extraordinary year, such as what occurred with Hurricane Katrina in 2005 or Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Because homeowners dont incur the full cost of building in a flood zone we end up with more houses there than if homeowners incurred the full cost of the flood risk, which exacerbates the governments costs in the next disaster.

Homeowners who live in lower risk areas & are not required to purchase flood insurance heavily cross-subsidize homeowners who are in areas where floods are more common.

Wildfires

The risk of wildfires is considered moderate in the northwest part of the state. Fire damages from wildfires & other types of fires are typically covered in most homeowner's insurance policies. If you own expensive items you may want to keep an up-to-date household inventory list which lists specific valuables, such as fine art & jewelry.

Local Real Estate Laws

Property Taxes

Utah has one of the lowest property tax rates in the country. In 2016 the average rate across the state was 0.65% while the national average was 1.24%. The 0.65% rate on the median home value of $300,245 leads to an annual assessment of $1,948.

Other Real Estate Laws

Utah Exemption Act

The Utah Exemption Act is also known as the Homestead Act, and it is designed to protect some of the home owner's equity in the event of a forced foreclosure or a bankruptcy. If your bankruptcy was due to something like unpaid medical bills or certain business debts, you could get $20,000 of protection for the head of household an $20,000 for a spouse. There are eligibility requirements you'll have to meet to get this protection.

Equitable Distribution

When it comes to Utah law, it is an equitable distribution state, and this means that any property will be divided fairly, but this doesn't necessarily mean equally. If both parties agree on who will get what portions of their property in a divorce, a judge will have to sign off on it. It depends on how long the marriage is, and parties ages and health, their income levels, and occupations. Long-term marriages are more likely to get a 50-50 split, and shorter marriages may be more unequally divided.

Foreclosures

Home loan products are recognized in Utah as either mortgage contracts or Deeds of trust. However, most lenders tend to use deeds of trust to govern home loans in Utah.

The state of Utah is what is known as a non-recourse state when it comes to foreclosures. Most borrowers prefer this type of mortgage loan because the lender isn't allowed to sue them for additional funds if they default on their mortgage and the home sells for less than is still owed on the home. For example, if you purchase a car with a non-recourse loan and default, the lender is allowed to repossess and sell the car. The difference between a recourse and a non-recourse loan is whatever the lender sells the car for will satisfy your debt, no matter how much you owed when you defaulted. If you owed $7,000 on the car when you defaulted, and the lender sells the car for $4,000, they'd have to absorb the $3,000 loss with no additional cost to you.

Utah is primarily a title theory state, and this means that the property's title will remain in a trust until the property is paid in full. Additionally, Utah is primarily a non-judicial foreclosure state. This means court action isn't required to foreclose on a property once the borrower defaults on the mortgage. The deed of trust typically has a power of sale clause that the borrower signs when they take out the mortgage, and it states the appointed trustee will sell the property to satisfy the mortgage in the event of a default. Only an attorney, bank, or title loan company officer can serve as the trustee and sell the property.

Power of Sale

Before foreclosure proceedings can begin, the lender has three months from the default date to file a Notice of Default with the corresponding county office. This notice of default must be published for a minimum of three corresponding weeks in a local newspaper or a general circulation in the corresponding county. The final notice of sale has to be published at least 30 days before the sale date.

Every notice of default has certain information that it must contain to be considered valid. It has to have the time, date, and location of the sale, as well as a description of the defaulted property, the lender's intent to sell the property, and the deed of trust.

The foreclosure auction itself must take place in a public setting between the normal business hours of 9 am and 5 pm, and this date must be clearly listed on the notice of default. At this time, the appointed trustee will auction the property off to the highest bidder. However, the actual auction may be postponed up to 45 days if the original borrower that defaulted provides written notice.

Judicial Foreclosure

Lenders are allowed to go to court in a judicial foreclosure to have a judge sign off on the final proceedings. The lender files a lis pendens and a complaint to the court to begin the proceedings. The lis pendens provides the public notice that the property is being foreclosed on. The rest of this process typically follows the same procedure as a non-judicial foreclosure, except the courts are involved. The home will be sold at public auction through the courts.

Right to Redemption

Utah is one state that offers a post-sale right to redemption for judicial-type foreclosures. This law allows the borrower who defaulted to reclaim their home and property if they pay the defaulted amount in full, plus any costs associated with the foreclosure process. The court has the power to extend this period.

Learn More

Check out the following resources to learn more about the Utah real estate market.